Serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 2 (sgk2) is 80% identical to the kinase domain of sgk1, an important mediator of mineralocorticoid-regulated sodium (Na(+)) transport in the distal nephron ...of the kidney. The expression pattern and role in renal function of sgk2 are virtually uncharacterized. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry of rodent kidney coupled with real-time RT-PCR of microdissected rat kidney tubules showed robust sgk2 expression in the proximal straight tubule and thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. Sgk2 expression was minimal in distal tubule cells with aquaporin-2 immunostaining but significant in proximal tubule cells with Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3 (NHE3) immunostaining. To ascertain whether mineralocorticoids regulate expression of sgk2 in a manner similar to sgk1, we examined sgk2 mRNA expression in the kidneys of adrenalectomized rats treated with physiological doses of aldosterone together with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization showed that, unlike sgk1, sgk2 expression in the kidney was not altered by aldosterone treatment. Based on the observation that sgk2 is expressed in proximal tubule cells that also express NHE3, we asked whether sgk2 regulates NHE3 activity. We heterologously expressed sgk2 in opossum kidney (OKP) cells and measured Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity by Na(+)-dependent cell pH recovery. Constitutively active sgk2, but not sgk1, stimulated Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity by >30%. Moreover, the sgk2-mediated increase in Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity correlated with an increase in cell surface expression of NHE3. Together, these results suggest that the pattern of expression, regulation, and role of sgk2 within the mammalian kidney are distinct from sgk1 and that sgk2 may play a previously unrecognized role in the control of transtubular Na(+) transport through NHE3 in the proximal tubule.
Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy shows long-term effects in many cancer types, but resistance and relapse remain the main limitations of this therapy. Here, we describe a protocol to evaluate the tumor ...response to immunotherapy in a mouse lung cancer model. The protocol includes the establishment of the lung cancer mouse model, anti-PD-1 treatment, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte isolation, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry analysis. This protocol can also be applied to other cancer types and immunotherapies.
For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Yu et al. (2021)
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•Establish a tumor-derived cell line from a genetic engineered lung cancer mouse model•Evaluate the tumor response to immunotherapy using an allograft lung cancer model•Isolate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from fresh tumor samples•Evaluate activity of lymphocytes by flow cytometry and infiltration by immunofluorescence
Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy shows long-term effects in many cancer types, but resistance and relapse remain the main limitations of this therapy. Here, we describe a protocol to evaluate the tumor response to immunotherapy in a mouse lung cancer model. The protocol includes the establishment of the lung cancer mouse model, anti-PD-1 treatment, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte isolation, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry analysis. This protocol can also be applied to other cancer types and immunotherapies.
Cation/proton exchange has been recognized for decades in mammalian mitochondria, but the exchanger proteins have eluded identification. In this study, a cDNA from a human brain library, previously ...designated NHA2 in the genome, was cloned and characterized. The NHA2 transcript bears more similarity to prokaryotic than known eukaryotic sodium/proton exchangers, but it was found to be expressed in multiple mammalian organs and cultured cells. A mAb to NHA2 was generated and found to label an approximately 55-kD native protein in multiple tissues and cell lines. The specificity of this antibody was confirmed by demonstrating the loss of the native NHA2 band on immunoblots when cultured cells were treated with NHA2-specific small interfering RNA. Although NHA2 protein was detected in multiple organs, within each, its expression was restricted to specific cell types. In the kidney, co-localization with calbindin 28k and reverse transcription-PCR of microdissected tubules revealed that NHA2 is limited to the distal convoluted tubule. In cell lines, native NHA2 was localized both to the plasma membrane and to the intracellular compartment; immunogold electron microscopy of rat distal convoluted tubule demonstrated NHA2 predominantly but not exclusively on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, co-sedimentation of NHA2 antigen and mitochondrial membranes was observed with differential centrifugation, and two mitochondrial markers co-localized with NHA2 in cultured cells. Regarding function, human NHA2 reversed the sodium/hydrogen exchanger-null phenotype when expressed in sodium/hydrogen exchanger-deficient yeast and restored the ability to defend high salinity in the presence of acidic extracellular pH. In summary, NHA2 is a ubiquitous mammalian sodium proton/exchanger that is restricted to the distal convoluted tubule in the kidney.
Wireless power transfer has given a promising alternative to replenish battery-powered wireless sensor networks (WSNs). We can employ mobile vehicles, robots, or unmanned aerial vehicle as mobile ...chargers to wirelessly charge sensor nodes. Most of previous works either assume that a mobile charger can charge only one sensor node at a time, or optimize for charging delay, radiation safety, etc. In this paper, we consider a fundamental problem: given one mobile charger that can charge multiple sensor nodes simultaneously, how we can schedule it to charge a given WSN to maximize the energy usage effectiveness (EUE)? We propose a novel charging paradigm, Overlapped Mobile Charging (OMC), the first of its kind to the best of our knowledge. Firstly, OMC clusters sensor nodes into multiple non-overlapped sets using k-means evaluated by the Davies–Bouldin Index, such that the sensor nodes in each set have similar recharging cycles. Secondly, for each set of sensor nodes, OMC further divides them into multiple overlapped groups, and charges each group at different locations for different time durations to make sure that each overlapped sensor node just receives its required energy from multiple charging locations. Simulations confirm the advantages of OMC in terms of EUE.
α-Klotho is highly expressed in the kidney, and its extracellular domain is cleaved and released into the circulation. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a state of α-Klotho deficiency, which exerts ...multiple negative systemic effects on numerous organs including the cardiovascular system. Since acute kidney injury (AKI) greatly escalates the risk of CKD development, we explored the effect of α-Klotho on prevention and treatment on post-AKI to CKD progression and cardiovascular disease. Therein, ischemia reperfusion injury-induced AKI was followed by early administration of recombinant α-Klotho or vehicle starting one day and continued for four days after kidney injury (CKD prevention protocol). A CKD model was generated by unilateral nephrectomy plus contralateral ischemia reperfusion injury. Late administration of α-Klotho in this model was started four weeks after injury and sustained for 12 weeks (CKD treatment protocol). The prevention protocol precluded AKI to CKD progression and protected the heart from cardiac remodeling in the post-AKI model. One important effect of exogenous α-Klotho therapy was the restoration of endogenous α-Klotho levels long after the cessation of exogenous α-Klotho therapy. The treatment protocol still effectively improved renal function and attenuated cardiac remodeling in CKD, although these parameters did not completely return to normal. In addition, α-Klotho administration also attenuated high phosphate diet-induced renal and cardiac fibrosis, and improved renal and cardiac function in the absence of pre-existing renal disease. Thus, recombinant α-Klotho protein is safe and efficacious, and might be a promising prophylactic or therapeutic option for prevention or retardation of AKI-to-CKD progression and uremic cardiomyopathy.
Developing a generalized strategy for the nonfouling detection of biomarkers in diverse biological fluids presents a significant challenge. Herein, a polyhydroxyproline helical peptide (PHHP) was ...designed and adopted to fabricate electrochemical microsensors capable of detecting targets in various biological media. The PHHP possessed unique properties such as strong hydrophilicity, rigid structure, and lack of ionizable side-chain groups. Compared with common zwitterionic peptides (ZIPs), the PHHP exhibited similar antifouling capability but exceptional stability, allowing its antifouling performance to be unaffected by environmental alteration. The PHHP can prevent biofouling even in fluctuating pH conditions, high ionic strength environments, and the presence of high-valence ions and resist the protease hydrolysis. The PHHP-modified carbon fiber microelectrode was further immobilized with an aptamer to construct an antifouling microsensor for cortisol detection across diverse biofluids, and the microsensor exhibited acceptable accuracy and higher sensitivity than the ELISA method. In addition, different biological samples of mice were collected in situ using a microsensing device, and cortisol levels were analyzed in each specifically tailored region. This nonfouling sensing strategy based on PHHP allows a comprehensive assessment of biomarkers in both spatial and temporal dimensions in diverse biological environments, holding promising potential for early disease diagnosis and real-time health monitoring.
Ischemic renal injury is a formidable clinical problem, the pathophysiology of which is incompletely understood. As the Na/H exchanger-3 (NHE3) mediates the bulk of apical sodium transport and a ...significant fraction of oxygen consumption in the proximal tubule, we examined mechanisms by which ischemia–reperfusion affects the expression of NHE3. Ischemia–reperfusion dramatically decreased NHE3 protein and mRNA (immunohistochemistry, immunoblot, and RNA blot) in rat kidney cortex and medulla. The decrease in NHE3 protein was uniform throughout all tubules, including those appearing morphologically intact. In the kidney cortex, a decrease in NHE3 surface protein preceded that of NHE3 total protein and mRNA. Kidney homogenates from rats exposed to mild renal ischemia-reduced cell surface NHE3 protein expression in opossum kidney cells in vitro, whereas homogenates from animals with moderate-to-severe ischemia reduced both total NHE3 protein and mRNA. The decrease in total NHE3 protein was dependent on the proteasomal degradation associated with NHE3 ubiquitylation measured by coimmunoprecipitation. The transferable factor(s) from the ischemic homogenate that reduce NHE3 expression were found to be heat sensitive and to be associated with a lipid-enriched fraction, and did not include regulatory RNAs. Thus, transferable factor(s) mediate the ischemia–reperfusion injury-induced decrease in NHE3 of the kidney.
AKI confers increased risk of progression to CKD. αKlotho is a cytoprotective protein, the expression of which is reduced in AKI, but the relationship of αKlotho expression level to AKI progression ...to CKD has not been studied. We altered systemic αKlotho levels by genetic manipulation, phosphate loading, or aging and examined the effect on long-term outcome after AKI in two models: bilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury and unilateral nephrectomy plus contralateral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Despite apparent initial complete recovery of renal function, both types of AKI eventually progressed to CKD, with decreased creatinine clearance, hyperphosphatemia, and renal fibrosis. Compared with wild-type mice, heterozygous αKlotho-hypomorphic mice (αKlotho haploinsufficiency) progressed to CKD much faster, whereas αKlotho-overexpressing mice had better preserved renal function after AKI. High phosphate diet exacerbated αKlotho deficiency after AKI, dramatically increased renal fibrosis, and accelerated CKD progression. Recombinant αKlotho administration after AKI accelerated renal recovery and reduced renal fibrosis. Compared with wild-type conditions, αKlotho deficiency and overexpression are associated with lower and higher autophagic flux in the kidney, respectively. Upregulation of autophagy protected kidney cells in culture from oxidative stress and reduced collagen 1 accumulation. We propose that αKlotho upregulates autophagy, attenuates ischemic injury, mitigates renal fibrosis, and retards AKI progression to CKD.
In this study, the electrospinning method was successfully applied to the preparation of Ti3C2@Fe3O4@rGO aerogel. To accomplish comprehensive advantages, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), Ti3C2 MXene ...nanosheets and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were suitably combined. The prepared Ti3C2@Fe3O4@rGO aerogel with superior high-temperature indoor/outdoor thermal camouflage performance: wide camouflage temperature range (from room temperature to over 200 ℃), large reduction in radiation temperature (exceeding 120 ℃ for objects with temperatures over 200 ℃). Meanwhile, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency of the Ti3C2@Fe3O4@rGO in the X-band reaches 50dB which means that it can shield more than 99.9% of the incident electromagnetic waves. In conclusion, the successful preparation of Ti3C2@Fe3O4@rGO provides an effective strategy for the design of high-temperature thermal camouflage and microwave absorber in the future.
•A novel Ti3C2@Fe3O4@rGO aerogel material is prepared by straightforward ultrasonic mixing combined with electrostatic spraying method.•The material exhibits superior high-temperature indoor/outdoor thermal camouflage performance and excellent infrared stealth.•The stable temperature of infrared thermal imaging at 200 ℃ is only 83.3℃.
Alpha-Klotho is a member of the Klotho family consisting of two other single-pass transmembrane proteins: βKlotho and γKlotho; αKlotho has been shown to circulate in the blood. Fibroblast growth ...factor (FGF)23 is a member of the FGF superfamily of 22 genes/proteins. αKlotho serves as a co-receptor with FGF receptors (FGFRs) to provide a receptacle for physiological FGF23 signaling including regulation of phosphate metabolism. The extracellular domain of transmembrane αKlotho is shed by secretases and released into blood circulation (soluble αKlotho). Soluble αKlotho has both FGF23-independent and FGF23-dependent roles in phosphate homeostasis by modulating intestinal phosphate absorption, urinary phosphate excretion, and phosphate distribution into bone in concerted interaction with other calciophosphotropic hormones such as PTH and 1,25-(OH)
2
D. The direct role of αKlotho and FGF23 in the maintenance of phosphate homeostasis is partly mediated by modulation of type II Na
+
-dependent phosphate co-transporters in target organs. αKlotho and FGF23 are principal phosphotropic hormones, and the manipulation of the αKlotho-FGF23 axis is a novel therapeutic strategy for genetic and acquired phosphate disorders and for conditions with FGF23 excess and αKlotho deficiency such as chronic kidney disease.
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